Here’s a new game for fanatics! Create your own F1 calendar and there are only two rules: first is that you must select the same amount of venues as there are right now (20) and they must take place in different countries (or states in the case of America) than what are currently on the calendar. You can choose tracks or design them yourself if you’d like. I’m interested to hear why you’ve made your selections too :)

The way I understand it, there should only be countries that currently do not have a GP on the calendar.

1. Argentina – Potrero de los Funes, without chicanes: Stunning circuit, potentially great race if you look at what Valencia can bring.

2. Venezuela – Pastor Maldonado Raceway: A brand new track, sponsored by PDVSA and named after their national zero, euhm… hero. It’s only 4km long and has 10 very fast turns and one hairpin after a steeply downhill braking zone. It’s located in the mountains North of Caracas.

3. South Africa – Kyalami: The South African government decided to upgrade Kyalami. They have added a couple of dounting turns and the long straight with the kink is back.

4. Morocco – Ain Diab: Another classic that makes it’s return.

5. San Marino – Imola: The chicane in the Tamburello is tightened for overtaking, but the Villeneuve chicane is removed and Variante Alta is loosened to make the track more like it’s original incarnation.

7. France – Reims-Gueux: The old pits are rebuilt and the circuit follows the old circuit as closely as possible, like THIS.

8. United States East – Watkins Glen: Formula One returns to it’s natural home in The States, one of the greatest tracks on the calendar.

9. United States West – Long Beach: A glamourous grand prix in the backyard of Hollywood superstars.

10. Mexico – Monterey: A new circuit in the hills outside the city.

11. Isle of Man – Mountain Course Short Loop: The FIA decides it’s time F1 drivers show the world they still have balls, so they use part of the iconic track and make a “short” loop of 10km. Since it’s such a unique event, a different set of rules applies to give the track a Grade 1.

12. The Netherlands – Zandvoort: Not as fast as it used to be, but this track in the Dutch dunes still delivers and hasn’t lost it’s character.

13. Austria – Red Bull Ring: Makes it’s popular return.

14. Finland – 1000 Lakes Circuit: After bringing forth a plethora of great racing drivers, Finland decides they should build an even more extreme version of the Nordschleife. It’s 30km long and is open for the public. There is also a 7km Grand Prix loop of the track, an instant favorite amongst the drivers.

15. Russia – West Siberian International Circuit: This economically well-off region wants to compete with the Capital and manages to land a Grand Prix by building a new, superfast track near Omsk, inspired by the old Spa-Francorchamps.

16. Turkey – Istanbul Park: Probably the best track of the newest generation. Turn 4 is bypassed to make the setup less aero-dependant.

18. Vietnam – Nha Trang International Circuit: Vietnam also wants to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with. The track is twisty with lots of undulation and goes from the beach up into the hills.

19. Indonesia – Jakarta Street Circuit: A long, bumpy and slow track. Very tough on the body and the car.

2. Oceanic GP – Bathurst – A great circuit and as Jenson Button proved, you can at least drive on it.

3. European GP – Oulton Park – Odd choice for a lot of people but the circuit itself is fast, bumpy and unforgiving. One of my favourites to drive on Rfactor.

4. San Marino GP – Imola – I’d choose the circuit more or less in its current configuration except without the Villeneuve chicane and the previous Alta chicane.

5. Turkish GP – Istanbul – The best of the Tilke circuits in my view.

6. Monaco GP – Monte Carlo – Wouldn’t be F1 without it.

7. Mexican GP – Hermanos Rodriguez – One of my favourite ever circuits. The Peraltada is a great corner but it’s the esses which I like the most – The way the speed on each turn continuously increases.

8. United States North GP – Road America – Classic circuit that deserves an F1 race, full stop. Built in the mid 1900’s, it’s one of the few circuits never to change it’s original layout.

9. Canadian GP – Mont Tremblant – A controversial choice given the circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s popularity but Mont Tremblant is extremely undulating and just as challenging to drive on.

10. French GP – Magny-Cours – I did actually like this circuit back in the day.

11. British GP – Brands Hatch – It was a close one between this and Silverstone.

12. Austrian GP – Osterreichring – Purely unique in terms of circuit design where the slowest corner is taken in 4th gear. (Without the Hella-Licht chicane)
(Alternative Round 12 – Lienz Short GP, this track is famous among Rfactor players. Extremely unforgiving with sequences such as Pinball Alley.)

13. German GP – Hockenheim Forest Circuit – Much like Osterreichring in terms of uniqueness. The 4 Forest blasts gave it great character.

14. Hungarian GP – Hungaroring – Now, I know this circuit sometimes doesn’t produce good racing, but the circuit itself it’s genuinely good in my view. Just remove the chicane and it would be almost perfect.

15. Belgian GP – Spa-Francorchamp – Where else?

16. Italian GP – Monza – I prefered this track when it had two chicanes at the first sector rather than the single chicane.

17. Portuguese GP – Algarve – It’s a modern circuit but it’s one of the best modern circuits in Europe. I do wish F1 would try this track out as a race.

18. United States West GP – Laguna Seca – Another classic American circuit with one of the most fearsome corners in the world.

19. Japanese GP – Suzuka – The only place for the Japanese Grand Prix in my view.

20. Australian GP – Adelaide – I do like Melbourne but there’s just something nostalgic about the last race being Adelaide.

I see many of you chose countries that do already have a track on the calendar and also historic versions of circuits, so I made a fictional calendar with the best circuits in each country that deserves a GP, regardless of time. The only restriction is that I think a lap time of over 3 minutes is too long, so no Nordschleife, Snaefell Mountain Course, Targa Florio or that sort of thing. Imagine having these tracks with ’86 F1s!

1. Argentinean Grand Prix – Potrero de los Funes 1987-2007: It’s a stunning track now, but it must’ve been mental with looser turns and without the chicanes.

2. Brazilian Grand Prix – Interlagos 1936-1989: Almost all the goodies of the current track, with extra high speed corners and straights.

3. South African Grand Prix – Kyalami 1968-1985: The best circuit on the continent (never tried Tripoli). A short blast at high altitude.

4. Yugoslavian Grand Prix – Opatija 1939-1977: Probably the most heart-stopping circuit of all-time. Only the stupendously brave will tackle this deathtrap at full speed.

5. Monaco Grand Prix – Monaco 1973-1975: A true must-have on the calendar. Poses a unique challenge for both driver and car. This incarnation has the faster chicane out of the tunnel, but also the very tricky Rascasse.

6. Spanish Grand Prix – Montjuïc 1969-1975: Very pretty track with both slow and fast corners. Easily the best ever on the Iberian peninsula (apart, maybe, from Lasarte in San Sebastian, but that one doesn’t qualify).

7. Unites States Grand Prix East – Virginia 1957-Present: Very stiff competition from Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Bridgehampton and many more, but I chose this one because of Watkins Glen’s proximity to Mosport, which comes shortly after.

8. United States Grand Prix West – Laguna Seca 1963-1987: Sears Point and Long Beach have their merit, but the early version of Laguna Seca is so much fun. Those boring turns of the current track didn’t exist yet, so it was an even shorter blast and you pass the Corkscrew about every 30-40 seconds in an F1 car.

9. Canadian Grand Prix – Mosport 1961-Present: The most difficult choice for me was Watkins Glen + Mont Tremblant/Montreal or Mosport + Virginia/Road Atlanta. I just love fast corners over a crest.

11. French Grand Prix – Le Mans 1956-1967: France never had a mainstay on the calendar, but because of that it has had more fantastic circuits in F1 than any other country. Rouen, Reims, Charade and Dijon are all great tracks, but I chose for the one that is truly legendary and the one that everybody wants to see an F1 race on.

12. British Grand Prix – Cadwell Park 1962-Present: If you ignore the fact that the facilities are not even adequate for the BTCC, this is Britain’s greatest track.

13. Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps 1947-1978: Does this one need any explanation?

14. West German Grand Prix – Solitudering 1922-1965: A stunning track in the forests near Stuttgart. The first half is blazingly quick with a few heart-stopping corners and the return is a series of esses that makes Suzuka’s snakes look like a little worm.

16. Italian Grand Prix – Monza 1976-1999: I love the old Imola circuit. Piratella was banked at the apex, but off-camber if you missed it and subsequently crashed without pardon, Aqua Minerale was like Pouhon followed by the Corksrew in reverse and there was a blind kink over a crest where the Variante Alta currently lies. But I just couldn’t choose any other circuit than the Italian GP’s spiritual home. And it’s not like Lesmo, Ascari and Parabolica aren’t challenging either.

17. Turkish Grand Prix – Istanbul 2005-Present: Istanbul stands out favorably amongst what we’re used to these days, but does it stand up against the greats? Well, it manages and the contrast with all the old school tracks will make it shine brighter.

19. Singapore Grand Prix – Thomson Road 1966-1973: Before the street circuit in the urban jungle, Singapore had a street circuit in the real jungle. And not a bad one.

20. Australian Grand Prix – Bathurst 1963-1986: Australia had many great tracks on rural roads, like Lobethal, Longford and Gnoo Blas, but this one is truly mythical. I do like Caltex Chase, but it’s not a challenge in an F1 car, so why have it? And Reid Park also required more commitment in the old days, so I chose for the old version.

@steph how about past configurations of current circuits? (I hate to be so pedantic – but just wanna make sure I’m playing to the rules! :P) And of course I’d hate for Monaco/Spa/Suzuka to not be there :(

Right, a hybrid from me, based on the current calendar, with a few of my pet peeve races dropped in favour of exciting/histroic tracks. My aim to get races on all continents!

1. South African Grand Prix Kyalami – Africa needs a race and my hometown is best placed to host it!
2. Australian Grand Prix Albert Park – This has to be on the calendar for me.
3. Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit – It may be a Tilkedrome, but I love it.
4. Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka – Moved earlier in the year for logistical reasons.
5. Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul Park – Tilke’s second best track behind Sepang.
6. Dutch Grand Prix Assen – A personal touch, I’d love to see an f1 car going round Assen!
7. Spanish Grand Prix Aragon – As long as Nando’s in F1 it has be be on the calendar, so the track may as well be interesting!
8. San Marino Grand Prix Enzo e Dino Ferrari – The legend returns.
9. Portuguese Grand Prix Portimao – Cool looking track, it’s in.
10. Monaco Grand Prix Monte-Carlo – As long as there is F1 this has to be on the calendar!
11. Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – Massive fan favorite, great races, it stays.
12. United States Grand Prix (CENTRAL) Circuit of the Americas – Let’s give it a chance.
13. United States Grand Prix (WEST) Laguna Seca – I’d love to see F1 here, adds some variety.
14. British Grand Prix Silverstone – See reasoning for Monaco!
15. German Grand Prix Hockenheimring (OLD) – Again for variety.
16. Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps – If this falls off the calendar again I will cry.
17. Italian Grand Prix Monza – See reasoning for Silverstone and Monaco!
18. Indian Grand Prix Buddh International Circuit – Ok circuit, important market, it’s on the calendar.
19. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Island – There has to be a race in the middle east, this is the best compromise.
20. Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos – Best venue for the season finale.